30-06 Ammo options

[dailordasailor]

Try to be short and too the point... I’ve used Corelokt ammo for last 5 years and never had consistent results but things always died. This year was my wives first deer hunt and was a scary moment when there was no blood trail at 40 yd on 100lb doe. Same distance, no exit on a 120lb buck. Then at 20yds blew a hole size of billiard ball on opposite side... I’ve had pretty iffy results on hogs too but assumed was the hogs “toughness”.

Looking for new factory ammo with regular availability. Have 3 hunts planned this year with biggest being antelope/mule deer in Wyoming. I know it will depend on what gun likes but like to have good place to start.

Locally I can get:
-Hornady Whitetail
-Federal Fusion
-Winchester power point
-Winchester extreme point
- Federal soft point
- Federal Premium with Nosler

That’s what I can find at local store, Walmart, and Dicks. Once get gun sighted in, plan to buy a good chunk of the bullets so be good all year.

Thanks
Dale

 

[Divernhunter]

Use 150-165gr Nosler Partitions or Fed Fusion

 

[Edge]

You don't list the weight or caliber. Assuming 30 cal class, either go heavier bullet weight or better constructed bullet.

Heavier: if using 150 gr go to 180 gr corelokt or similar bullet.

Better constructed: use same weight but use Nosler Accubond or Partition. Use Barnes or Hornady GMX.

Standard cup and core bullets, CoreLokt will come apart like standard Speer, Hornady or Sierra bullets. Go to either of the above options, find what your gun likes and you will be good to go.

Of the options you listed, Federal Nosler is my choice or Federal Fusion as the cheaper option.

Edge

 

[dailordasailor]

It is for 30-06 and 150gr. My wife also has the photo copy of my gun so in perfect world would use same ammo so prefer to stay in 150gr. Not crucial.

Is Nosler going to our perform fusion notabley? Happy to try both but if ones better then other and shoot similar at range...

 

[Royal27]

The internet is your friend.

Figure out what shoots best from your rifle then buy on the internet, not locally. You can almost certainly find it cheaper, even with shipping.

www.ammoseek.com

 

[dailordasailor]

Recommendations on ammo to look for online then? I just like idea I can always run to store if needed

 

[jduckhunter]

Try Hornady 150 gr. SST Superformance I used their interlocks for years with great results, the SST is a tipped interlock so it has a higher BC for longer range. Should be fine for deer and antelope in WY

 

[Royal27]

Recommendations on ammo to look for online then? I just like idea I can always run to store if needed

Get a couple of boxes and see what works best from YOUR rifle. Knowing what works best from mine doesn't help....

I'm a big believer in premium bullets now, which would mean Barnes, Aframes, Nosler, and some others. I have read and seen to many things about Hornady not doing what they are supposed to for me to even try them anymore, although I'd use them if nothing else was available.

The other thing about getting a really good bullet to start with is that if you do end up wanting to shoot an elk or bear, you're already set.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Midway USA lists 125 different 30-06 options.
https://www.midwayusa.com/rifle-ammunition/br?cid=690

I've killed a lot deer with Core-Lokt while growing up, with a 30-30 & 30-06. I made a one shot kill on a blue wildebeest with a 300 win mag with Core-Lokt and it dropped without taking a step.

I've also had good success with the Hornady SST, with several one shot kills. Very accurate in my rifles, but you tend to not get an exit wound with this bullet. (my experience).

I also shoot Swift A-Frame and this bullet was recommended for my Alaskan Brown bear hunt and also my cape buffalo hunt.

 

[Edge]

Nosler 150 gr will have better ballistic coefficient than the 150gr Fusion. Find what shoots best and shoot at range to figure actual drops. Lots of options out there.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

For mule deer and pronghorn where the shot distance may be on the longer side, I'd give the Nosler Accubonds a go. I would encourage you to go to a 165gr bullet however. It'll be slower but the improved BC will mostly offset that effect. And you'll have a bullet less pushed around by the wind.

 

[curtism1234]

You don't need a premium bullet to deer hunt, though it doesn't hurt. I have not used the corelokt bullet enough to form an opinion about them. I shot a whitetail doe in the shoulder at 150 yards with a 150gr 308win and she dropped right down. I recall the bullet exploded into several pieces and did not exit. Then I used the 180gr round noise 308win and shot another doe in the shoulder at 50 yards. She ran about 50 yards and fell over. Blood trail was good and did not do a lot of damage despite a double shoulder. I would have expected her to collapse. That's probably the last time I'll use Remington ammo despite the success.

My family has used Power Points for decades. I think the quality has been terrible the last 5 years or so - particularly with inconsistent bullet seating depth.

I think of what you listed, I'd look at the Hornady interlock bullet or the Fusion. The Hornady bullet has been around a long time and the fusion seems to be a good tough bullet for thin skinned medium game.

 

[Ray B]

Of those listed for the size animals involved, my choice is WW Power Point.

 

[IvW]

I would just use a 180gr premium grade bullet and hunt everything with that even Mule deer.

Heck you are talking about inconsistent performance @2x40 yards and 1x20 yards! from what you say! The bullets are too soft and traveling too fast!

A premium grade 180gr bullet @ 2700-2800 out of an 06 will kill anything you need it to at all practical ranges without any inconsistencies.

This will give you about 3,5 inches low at 250 yards and only 9 inches low at 300 yards, which will allow you to shoot comfortable at deer out to that range.

If you want to use 150gr bullets get a .270 Win.

 

[Hunting Sailor]

I would just use a 180gr premium grade bullet and hunt everything with that even Mule deer.

Heck you are talking about inconsistent performance @2x40 yards and 1x20 yards! from what you say! The bullets are too soft and traveling too fast!

A premium grade 180gr bullet @ 2700-2800 out of an 06 will kill anything you need it to at all practical ranges without any inconsistencies.

This will give you about 3,5 inches low at 250 yards and only 9 inches low at 300 yards, which will allow you to shoot comfortable at deer out to that range.

If you want to use 150gr bullets get a .270 Win.

What is your view of 200 and 220 grain bullets, also premium grade on distances up to let’s say 200m?

//Gus

 

[Shawn.54]

I got away from standard cup and core bullets a few years ago when my son using a 7mm-08 was not getting an exit wound on anything under 150 yards. These bullets killed the deer but not always right there with thick brush and no snow it made for a hard tracking job I went with Nosler Accubond problem solved they may travel a little bit further not much and always have blood to follow.
Shawn

 

[IvW]

What is your view of 200 and 220 grain bullets, also premium grade on distances up to let’s say 200m?

//Gus

200 grn are superb 220 grn as well but may be better suited to the .30 cal magnums for loner range, but cannot be beaten for closer range work in the bush at shorter ranges. Many DG have fallen to 220 grainers from the 30-06.

 

[jduckhunter]

I've been thinking about this thread all night and this morning decided to take a look at my hunting diary, yes I kept a diary of every big game animal that I've shot since my first in 1974. I've been fortunate enough to have been able to hunt mule deer and pronghorn every year since 1984 (my addiction). According to my diary I used a 30-06 from 1984 to 2000 loaded with either Rem. core-lokts or Hornady interlocks in 150 gr. Then wishing to hunt with a lighter gun I switched to a 6mm Rem. loaded up with 100 gr. interlocks, that combination proved quite deadly. Then in 2005 I shot a big mule deer buck standing broadside at 435 yds and although he dropped at the shot I was a bit disappointed that the bullet did not pass through but was recovered under the hide on the off side. So looking for an excuse to purchase a new rifle I bought a 25-06, used that rifle from 2006 up to 2014. My go to bullet for that rifle was the 100 gr. interlock at a muzzle velocity of 3250 fps. On close shots it proved to be devastating and on further distant shots I was getting exit wounds. I bought a Ruger Guide Gun in 2014, it is a 30-06 model and just for the heck of it I took it along to WY to hunt muley's. She really likes Speer 165 gr. BTSP's, they're not the fastest bullet out of that short barrel but the groups I was shooting were amazing. My diary says that I have taken 3 muley's and 3 whitetail bucks so far with the Guide Gun and Speer bullets and all with 1 shot, not bragging just letting you know what can be done with crappy old technology cup and core bullets. Over the years I have taken many people along to WY to hunt deer and pronghorns, some were good shots, some were great shots, and some weren't so good at shooting at all. Some used old style bullets like I use and some came with the latest, greatest bullets and you know what? The only critter that was ever wounded and not recovered was shot with a Berger VLD hunting bullet. That pronghorn doe was shot at about 250 yds. broadside, she was hit a bit far back, not too far behind the lungs, but just far enough to miss them. As she ran off I could see the slightest bit of blood on both sides of her ribcage, she was out of sight in seconds so we left her go for a while and then tried to pick up a blood trail. No blood, no hair, just tracks from a her and dozen or so antelope that she was running with. We spent hours trying to locate that doe to no avail. We even went back the next day and searched some more with no luck, the female hunter that shot her was pretty upset and did not want to continue hunting. After a long conversation I convinced her that it happens sometimes to the best of us and she agreed to try again. This time using a 270 and 130 gr. core-lokts she knocked the next doe over in her tracks. That hollow point on that VLD for whatever reason failed to open up. I'm sorry to say that I have seen more then one deer or antelope gut shot, but there is usually enough damage done so that the animal can be found and dispatched rather quickly. After that little ordeal I must say that I am done with hollow point bullets for big game hunting.
Sorry about the rambling on, think what you want, use whatever bullet that you want. I just wanted to share some of my experiences with you. And one more thing for you young guys just starting your hunting careers, keep a hunting diary. You might think that you will never forget about this critter or that critter that you took here or there, but trust me after 30 or 40 or 50 years memories get a little fuzzy.

 

[JakeH]

I’m a big fan of Federal products. For deer-sized game, 130gr Fusions in my .270 have not failed to produce an exit wound or a blood trail from 20yds or 200yds. For anything larger than that I’d move up in both bullet quality and weight, to 150gr Partitions or 140gr Trophy Bonded Tip.

 

[JMM]

I guide whitetail hunters each year and shoot a lot of culls each year with the '06. My hunter this year used Federal blue box soft points and deer dropped in his tracks. Same thing last year. Bullets exited both times. Winchester Power Points also work very well. I am a big fan of the Nosler Ballistic Tip for deer/antelope. The bullet is very well designed and has a fairly thick jacket at the shank. 150 or 165 grain will work like a charm. Buy a box of each and see which one your rifle likes the best. Bullet placement is the key to success.